The Pacific Islands, often perceived as vulnerable outposts in the face of climate and biodiversity crises, are shifting the narrative. At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, French Polynesia declared its entire ocean territory (nearly 5 million km²), as a Marine Protected Area (MPA), the largest single-country designation of its kind.
Echoing this bold vision, leaders from Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Vanuatu announced the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, a 6-million km² initiative poised to become the world’s largest Indigenous-led multinational marine reserve. Grounded in local knowledge and strengthened by marine science, these initiatives chart a future where people, birds and ocean thrive together.
Original Article: Turning the Tide: Pacific Nations Lead in Ocean Conservation
